Newsletter 15 July 2022

 In this week’s newsletter...

  • Beginners Classes
  • Southern Cross Community Rewards
  • Results - ANC and Winter Pairs
  • GNOT Qualifying Teams -  Tues 19 and 26 July 
  • Other Upcoming Events
  • Bridge Tips by Joan Butts
  • Lighter Moments
  • Marymead Charity Card & Games Day - Monday 15 August

From the President

The Bridge Club's role in this pandemic is to do everything we can, that is under our control, to preserve the good health of our members. So far, we have been mostly successful in our endeavours. Case numbers in Canberra are increasing as the virus changes so we are not out of the woods yet. In fact, infectivity is getting worse and disease severity remains a concern. To this end the Committee is reluctant to make any changes to our policies and will continue to recommend mask wearing, only one person in the kitchen, and continue cleaning surfaces after play.

In addition, please observe physical distancing as much as possible, use hand sanitiser regularly and stay at home if you have any symptoms.

As the Committee is recommending that the tables are cleaned at the end of each session at the Club, volunteers are need to wash the cleaning cloths. If you have played in  a session please consider picking up the cloths at the end of that session.

Remember that many hands make light work.

Stay safe and enjoy your bridge.

Margaret

 

A Word on Governance

The Minutes from the Committee's 5 June Meeting are available on the notice board, online and here.  

 

Beginner's Classes

Our next beginner’s classes start in August on 17 and 19 August.  We have two sets of classes -  Wednesday – 7pm to 9pm (generally for people who can't commit during the day) and Friday 10am to 12 noon.  The classes run for 6 weeks. If you know someone who would like to learn to play bridge please tell them about our classes.  They can register interest on the club website or by talking to the managers. The cost is $69. 

Encouraging a younger cohort of players is beneficial and will ensure succession planning for our great game.  So if you know someone that you think may be interested in learning please consider a gift of lessons or just plant the seed that face-to-face lessons kickoff in the middle of next month.  There are 41 takers presently so this is great news for the club and bridge! Covid willing...

 

Sessions in the Club and on RealBridge are outlined below

Upcoming Sessions

Our weekly sessions are the same as last week:

  • Monday morning 10.00am at the club
  • Monday 2.00 pm (24 boards) RealBridge
  • Monday 7.00 pm RealBridge
  • Tuesday afternoon 1.00pm at the club
  • Tuesday 7.15pm event RealBridge - Winter Butler Pairs
  • Wednesday morning 10.00am at the club
  • Wednesday morning 10.15am RealBridge
  • Wednesday evening supervised at the club 7pm (18 boards following lesson) 
  • Wednesday evening 7.15pm at the club
  • Thursday morning 10.00am at the club - Butler and walk in duplicate
  • Thursday afternoon 2.00pm (24 boards) RealBridge
  • Friday morning supervised 9.30am at the club (18 boards following lesson) 
  • Friday morning walk-in session 9.30am
  • Friday afternoon 1.00pm at the club
  • Friday afternoon 1.15pm RealBridge
  • Saturday afternoon 1.15pm RealBridge

Watch the newsletters and website for advice on face-to-face sessions at the club, and RealBridge sessions as these are fluid, depending on COVID developments and demand.  At this stage it is intended that the Monday and Thursday afternoon RealBridge sessions will continue indefinitely.  

Member table money will be deducted from players CBCPay accounts. Visitors' fees will be paid for by their member-partner, or via prior arrangement by emailing the office.

Cost: face-to-face $10 members/ $13 visitors, concession $9.  RealBridge $8 members and $7 concession (including event) $10 visitors

Links to sessions are on our RealBridge page.

Low balance reminders for CBC Pay went out today.  If you didn't receive one then you are in the black!

 

July Supervised Sessions happening Wednesday nights and Friday Mornings at the Club

We run supervised duplicates on Wednesday evenings starting at 7.00pm and Friday mornings starting at 9.30 am.  

Each duplicate is preceded by a short lesson. 

Remaining supervised lessons in July will cover:

  • 20 & 22 July:  Weak 2D/2H/2S openings
  • 27 & 29 July:  Strong 2C openings

If you are interested, please come along.  You don’t need a partner.   There is no need to book.  If you would like a copy of the notes, please contact Morag Lokan.  Morag’s email address is This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Master the Basics

 Master the Basics virtual lessons are on Thursdays at 9.00am. The topic next week is Planning - Who's got what?  Please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. if you want to be added to the Zoom class. $6 for members and $8 for non-members. The lessons run for 30 minutes.  

 

Support us while Dining at the Canberra Southern Cross Club

CBC has recently reentered the Southern Cross Community Rewards Program. This Community Rewards Program rewards patrons and their preferred community groups.  

The club can earn up to $20,000 per year through the program. Those groups who are the most successful in the program have higher visitation to the CSC venues at Woden, Tuggeranong, Jamison and the Yacht Club.

7.5% of your food and beverage at the Southern Cross Club will be donated back to us as your preferred Community Group on your Canberra Southern Cross Club membership.  So if you are a member of the  Southern Cross Club and want to make us your favoured community organisation please indicate on this link and we will all be enriched!  

Non CBC members can also nominate us as their preferred community group, so please tell your friends and neighbours

 

Results 

Australian National Congress

The ANC wound up yesterday. We look forward to welcoming our mob home.  

Congratulations to the ACT Seniors Team who ran second in Adelaide this week   Adrienne Stephens /Peter Kahler, Michael Cullen /Bernie Waters, Sean Mullamphy /David Hoffman all took home medallions. David also wanted to acknowledge  the contribution of Peter Reynolds who substituted, once in the qualifying round, and twice in the finals.

Congratulations to Julia Hoffman and Judith Tobin who came second in the Interstate Pairs

Congratulations to Jodi Tutty and David Beauchamp who came first in the Stage 2 Mixed Pairs.  

Congratulations to Bruce Crossman and Niek Van Vucht who won the Consolation Swiss Pairs.  

For the results please see the ANC Conference website.

 

Winter Pairs

Final

1.Neil Ewart & Christopher Quail

2. Ruitian Lang & Jennifer Carter

3. Peter Grant & Tony Marinos

 

Upcoming Events

  

Grand National Qualifying Teams

The Qualifying round for the Grand National Open Teams are on 19 and 26 July on RealBridge.  There are non compulsory ACT finals face to face on Wednesday night in August.  If you make it to the Finals they are in Brisbane in November.  

Consider forming a team of four to six people and entering.  Details and entry link here

 

Upcoming Tuesday Evening RealBridge Tournaments

There are a range of other RealBridge tournaments coming up in August, September and October:

Swiss Butler Pairs incorporating the Ted Crichton Mixed Pairs Championships for 3 weeks on 2, 9 & 16 August

Swiss Match Point Pairs on 23 and 30 August

Butler Pairs on 6,13 and 20 September

Teams on 27 September and 4 October and 

Butler Pairs on 10 and 17 October.  

 

 

 Wagga Wagga Bridge Club 42nd Annual Congress

The Wagga Wagga Bridge Club is holding its Annual Congress on Friday19th, Saturday 20th and Sunday 21st of August. There are entry forms at the club.  

 

End Play with Joan Butts

Quick tips

The idea behind the end play is that some suit combinations are better led by a defender than declarer, because you might lose one less trick that way. You set up the play, at the end of the hand, so that an opponent leads a suit to you, at the right time, to help you make that extra trick.

Step 1: Go through your plan (thanks Audrey Grant) 
Assets: Count winners and/or losers.
Browse the checklist of techniques to develop extra tricks needed.
Consider the order you’ll play the cards in. (Easy to say but not always easy to do).

Step 2: Recognise a "frozen" suit  (ie one better led by a defender). If declarer can manipulate the play so they force a defender to lead the suit for them, it usually means an extra trick.

Step 3: Identify a loser (exit card).  For an endplay to work, one or other defender needs to be put on lead. This is called “a throw in”. An exit card is a definite loser that you can’t avoid. Force the opponents to win that trick towards the end of the hand. 

Step 4: Eliminate the defender’s other options.
Declarer needs to put one or other defender on lead when they (the defenders) can’t get out of their own  way. Take all your winners in other suits before exiting with the loser. Now the defender will lead what you want them to, because it's all they've got. 

Step 5: Throw the defender in.
Play your loser and let the opponents win. Sometimes your suit combinations require a specific defender to be on lead, and others don’t. Declarer can’t always control this.

 

Lighter Moments

 Marriage is like a game of cards.  To begin with you need 2 hearts and a diamond.  In the end you wish you had a club and a spade.  (Thanks Dan Danton)

 

 An interesting tweet after the Kyrgios v Djokovic Wimbledon Mens Open final tennis match on Sunday...

Dave Donovan   "Sports People owe you nothing but their skill.  Kyrgios is a brilliant tennis player; if you enjoy polite conversation, join a bridge club."  (Thanks Bricet Kloren)

 

And on sport, apparently Suncorp Stadium had to hire additional cleaners after Wednesday night's NRL State of Origin match.  This was due to there being so many sour grapes left behind by NSW supporters. 

 

Haven't spotted the Harbour Bridge of late but the NSW and Queensland State Premiers wagered that the losing side at the NRL State of Origin would light up their bridge hardware in the winner's colours. 

 

Marymead Charity Card and Games Day

Gather a group of friends to play bridge, mahjong, poker, chess or any game of your choice.   

Monday 15 August  2022 starts at 10am.  The $50 per person includes lunch, a glass of wine, tea, coffee and petit fours.  

Royal Canberra Golf Club , 71 Bentham St Yarralumla.  

There will be a raffle as well as quality craft and preserves for sale on the day.  Bookings close 8 August 2022. 

For more details and to enter press here.  

 

Be kind to each other.    

 

Tamara (for Kerry and Tamara)